According to Mr. Jide Awe, Chief Executive Officer of Jidaw Systems Ltd., the new WhatsApp feature may expose users to hacking or phishing attacks by cybercriminals.
According to media reports, the new WhatsApp feature allows users to manage their accounts on four different devices.
In an interview with journalists in Lagos on Saturday, Awe said that having multiple devices linked to a single account gives hackers more opportunities to access personal data or take over the account.
He did, however, mention that WhatsApp had put in place a number of security measures to protect against such threats, such as end-to-end encryption and remote device management.
In terms of benefits, he stated that the new feature would increase flexibility and convenience by giving users more ways to access their WhatsApp accounts.
The ability to use up to four different devices simultaneously makes it easier for users to stay connected with their contacts.
This feature will enable users to manage their devices and log out of them remotely. This can give them greater control over their accounts, he said.
On users’ opinions, Awe said individual preferences would come into play, noting that it might be convenient for some to use it on different devices while others could stick to using WhatsApp on one device.
He said that Mark Zuckerberg’s aim for adding the new feature could be an attempt to make WhatsApp more user-friendly and convenient with a view to attracting more users to the platform.
Awe said it could also be an attempt to keep up with other competitors like Telegram and Signal, both of which already offered multi-device support.
He added that the impact or success of the new feature would depend on whether users embraced it or if it would have any unforeseen consequences.
